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Hagel: I'm not defined by single vote, quote

Obama's drone defense

During Hagel’s remarks, Wagner said he sent an email detailing the speech to a friend, which he’s now drawing upon for the specifics of the allegation.

Wagner could not provide any recordings of Hagel’s comments, nor did he know of any friends or classmates who were present when Hagel spoke. Rutgers’s Division of Global Affairs does not have any record of the event, according to its director, Jean-Marc Coicaud. The 2010 Rutgers allegations were first reported by the conservative website The Washington Free Beacon.

"This is just the latest example of Sen. Hagel's troubling pattern of hostile rhetoric toward one of America's closest democratic allies — rhetoric far outside the bipartisan mainstream,” Kirk said in a statement via email. “I would urge the president to reconsider this nomination."

Also, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) sent a letter to Hagel on Wednesday, asking him to respond.

"Did you say this? Have you said anything similar? Does this contemporaneous email accurately reflect your views?" Graham asked.

Hagel supporters have pushed back against the Free Beacon report, noting that former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak also warned of the risk of “apartheid” in 2010, according to a Guardian report at the time.

In addition, a Hagel aide emphasized the former Republican senator from Nebraska is committed to the Obama administration’s policy of cooperating with and funding Israel's defense.

“Sen. Hagel has been clear throughout his career that he fully supports and understands the importance of the United States' special relationship with Israel,” the aide said. “Sen. Hagel will, if confirmed, continue to build on the unprecedented defense cooperation that the Obama administration has forged with the Israeli government.”

Still, despite the best efforts of his critics and a widely panned performance at his confirmation hearing, Hagel is expected to be confirmed by the Senate when it returns from the Presidents Day recess.

A vote to end debate on the nomination fell just short of the required 60 votes, and a new vote is expected on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a leading critic, said that unless something substantial arises, he’ll now allow Hagel’s confirmation to move forward.

“I don't believe he is qualified,” McCain said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But I don't believe that we should hold up his nomination any further.”

“I'm confident that Sen. Hagel will probably have the votes necessary to be confirmed as the secretary of Defense,” McCain concluded.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 3:31 p.m. on February 20, 2013.